Category: News & Advice
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2023 BAFTA Scotland Awards Nominations Announced
‘Aftersun’, ‘Mayflies’ and ‘Karen Pirie’ are among the leading nominations for this year’s awards The coveted BAFTA Scotland Awards are here once more to celebrate the very best of Scottish talent in 2023. Hosted again by radio DJ and TV presenter Edith Bowman, the BAFTA Scotland Awards aims to honour excellence across the Scottish screen…
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How to Make the Most of Your Spotlight Profile
Casting director James Pearson’s tips for what you should put on your Spotlight profile and how you can make a showreel with no experience If you’re a professional actor in the UK, then it’s highly likely that you have a Spotlight profile. However, not all actors use their Spotlight profile to its full extent. Did…
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UK Theatre Awards 2023: Winners!
Actors Mark Gatiss, Daniel Rigby, Lena Hall and Antony Eden among winners at the UK Theatre Awards 2023 On Sunday 8 October 2023, the UK Theatre Awards 2023 took place at London’s historic Guildhall. Hosted by musical theatre star and Spotlight member Zoe Birkett (Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Bodyguard,Priscilla Queen of the Desert), these prestigious…
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How to Get an Agent as a Graduate
Advice for drama school graduates about how to find and approach agents, and why an agent is beneficial for your acting career. When talking to graduates, I’m often asked if it’s possible to survive in this industry without an agent. In short, yes, I believe it’s possible to survive without an agent, but life can be made…
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How to Survive on Set Long-Term
How to take care of yourself when working on a film or TV set and get the most out of the experience as an actor by Sam Otto Embarking on a long-term film or TV shoot can be one of the most exhilarating experiences for an actor – particularly if it takes us overseas or…
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How to Get a Good Headshot
Spotlight’s guide on how to book a photo shoot and get the perfect headshot for your profile. Headshots are the very first thing a prospective casting director will see of you on Spotlight, so it’s important to get every aspect of the image right. Creating the right impression with the perfect headshot will help you…
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What the End of the Hollywood Writers’ Strike Means for the Industry
The Writers Guild of America said its members will be returning to work after three year contract agreed Published: 29th September 2023 The writers’ strike officially ended in the United States on Wednesday 27 September 2023 following a deal made between the writers’ union and producers. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) have been in…
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How to Stay Connected in the Performing Arts Industry
Why it’s important to stay connected to the performing arts industry between work and how you can use your time to build connections with other creatives. As actors, we live and breathe the performing arts industry. We work in it, we enjoy watching productions and we constantly dream of that next role. Sometimes, the time…
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My Casting Story: Samuel Haughton in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’
Performer Samuel Haughton shares how he came to be cast as Monsieur Reyer in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and his tips for performing on stage Spotlight member Samuel Haughton has been working professionally as an actor for 11 years since leaving drama school. Predominantly working in theatre, Sam has appeared in musicals like School of Rock, Top Hat and Spamalot,…
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How to Discuss Your Mental Health and Wellbeing with Your Agent
Tips for getting support to maintain your mental and emotional health and communicating your needs with your agent. Acting can be a challenging industry when it comes to mental health. You may experience rejection, frustration, and moments when your next job feels like it’ll never come. That’s why it’s essential to have a relationship with your…